Collapsible crate or box.



J. D. BELANGER. COLLA'PSIBLE CRATE 0R BOX.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 27. 1914.

Patented oet. 31,1916.

2 SHEETS--SHEET I l l 1 l I A l l x I llll ZMLK ff W f WW J. D. BELANGEH.

CoLLAPslBLE CRATE 0R Box.

APPLICATION FILED N'OVA 27, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Oct. 31

Ffa

JOHN D. BELANGER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GEORGE RACKY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

COLLAPSIBLE CRATE OR BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 31, 1916.

' Application filed November 27, 1914. Serial No. 874,229.

T 0 all 'whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN D. BELANGER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Collapsible Crates or Boxes; and I do hereby declare that the following description of my said invention, taken in connection with the accompanying sheets of drawings, forms a full, clear, and exact specification, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to collapsible crates or boxes and has for its object to provide a crate or box of this character, which, when in extended position, will be rigid and substantial, and when collapsed will have the elements thereofsecured together and entirely self-contained. j

With the above and other objects in view, this invention consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, all as hereinafter more fully described, claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is an elevation of a distended box constructed in accordance with the present invention, showing the same adapted for use as an egg or fruit shipping receptacle. Fig. 9. is an end elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is an end elevation illustrating the box or crate collapsed. Fig. 4 is a side elevation illustrating the arrangement of the elements of the box or crate when collapsed., Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken along line 5-,5 of Fig. 2 to illustrate the means kof locking the cover to the box or crate when the same is either distended or collapsed. Fig. 6 is an elevation partly in section illustrating the present invention as applied/to a crate. Fig. 7 is an end elevation thereof. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a crate illustrating the same collapsed. Fig. 9 is an end elevation of a crate collapsed. Fig. 10 is a vertical section taken along the line 10--10 of Fig. 6 to illustrate the means for lockingthe cover to the crate when the same is either distended or collapsed, and showing a modied fastener. Fig. 11 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of the top of a crate, illustrating a modified form of the mechanism for closing the grating.

The present invention resides primarily in the provision of a bottom having the two ends of the crate pivoted thereto in such a manner that when the same are elevated or distended, the two sides may be inserted therebetween having a slidable engagement therewith. The insertion of these two slide- .able sides is such that the pivoted sides are rigidly and securely held in place thereby. The top which cooperates with the crate or box is such that when in place it incluses sides and bottom when the same are collapsed and is provided with means whereby it may be locked in position irrespective of whether the crate or box is collapsed or distended.

In Figs. l to 5 inclusive is illustrated a box constructed in accordance with the present invention which is adapted for the packing of eggs, fruit and the like for shipment. In this form of the invention, 10 indicates the bottom of the crate provided at each end with the` transverse strips or cleats 11, which extend beyond the terminals of the bottom 10 to form depressed ledges in combination with said bottom. An end 12 is pivoted adjacent to each terminal of the bottom 10 by means of hinges 13. These hinges are preferably of wire bent in `U-shape, the cross bars .1,31 thereof being parallel to the terminals of the bottom 10 and spaced therefrom, said cross bars being pivotally secured to said bottom by suitable screw eyes. The arms of the hinge extend diagonally and upwardly to the adjacent ends 12 and are bent toward one another, having said bent terminals 13b pivotally secured to adjacent ends 12, by similar screw eyes, adjacent to but spaced from the lower terminals of said ends 12. In this manner the ends 12 are pivoted to the. bottom 10, so that the ends 12 may rotate about the common axis of the terminals 13b, and, likewise, together with the hinge members 13, about the common axis of the cross bars 13a. In use, when the ends are elevated, the transverse cleats 14, secured to the lower terminals of the ends 12 and projecting therebeyond which form depressed ledges which lrest upon the depressed ledges formed by the cleats 11 carried by the bottom 10. Thus the ends 12 have a substantial and irm foundation on the bottom 10 when in their elevated positions. When the box is collapsed the ends are elevated slightly to disengage the cleats 14 thereof from the cleats 1,1 of the bottom, and the lower edges are swung inwardly so that when collapsed, the upperI edges of the ends rest in substantially the same vertical plane as the transverse ends of the bottom 10, and the lower edges'of the ends 12 rest adjacent to each other at approximately the centerof the bottom. As illustrated in Fig. 4t, the ends 12 when collapsed rest approximately parallel to the bottom 10. Each end12 is provided adjacent to each longitudinal edge with a O'roove 15 in which are received the terminals of the sides 16. lVhen the sides 16 arey in their operative positions, the ends 12 are elevated, and said sides 16 are slid into the corresponding grooves in the ends 12, thus not only retaining the sides in their operative position but also securely and firmly locking the ends in their elevated positions. Each side'16 is provided adjacent to each end with a transverse cleat 17, beyond which the adjacent end of the side 16 projects. This projecting end of the side enters into the adjacent groove 15 of the cooperating end 12 while the cleat 17 bears against the inner surface of said end. As it is customary to provide a partition in boxes of this character to divide the box into compartments, such a partition 18 is provided in the box of the present invention. The sides 16 are provided along their lower edges with the medial notches ,1.9, in which are received lugs 2O formed on each end of the lower edge of the partition 18. These lugs 20 are recessed on their upper surfaces as in 21 (Fig. 1) for the reception of the upper edges of the notch 19 of the side 16. In this manner, just before the sides have been completely slid downwardly into their operative positions, the partition 18 may be positioned so that the lugs 20 thereof will enter the notch 19, after which the sides 16 are completely slid down and lock the lower edge of the partition 18 in position. The upper edge of the partition 18 is provided with a transverse rod 22 pivotally mounted in a groove in said partition, the outer ends 23 of which are bent at right angles to said rod and operate against the outersurfaces of the side 16. The upper edges of the sides 16 are provided with the small depressions 24 in which the rod 22 is received, so that when the arms 23 of said rod are swung downwardly to bear against the outer surfaces of the sides 16, said sides and the partitionA 18 will be locked together. rFhe top 25 rests upon the upper edges of the ends 12 and the sides 16 when the box is distended and is provided at each transverse end-with a downwardly extending lip or flange 26. This flange 26 is provided with a socket 27, in which is secured a hook 29 by means of a nut 28. These hooks are arranged to engage over the flanges or cleats 30 formedV on the upper edges of the ends 12.

In operation, when the crate is distended' the bottom 10, ends 12, sides 116, and partition 18, are positioned' as heretofore described. The cover 25 is then placed so that it rests upon the upper edges of the ends 12 and sides 16, with the depending end lips or lianges 26 thereof exteriorly of and adjacent to thecleats 30 of the ends 12. As the hooks 29 are pivotally mounted in the end lipsv or flanges 26 of the cover 25, they'7 may be swung to engage over the lower edges of the cleats 30' thereby locking the cover in its operativeposition. vUpon collapsing., the crate, the lower 'edges of thev ends are swung inwardly, that is, of course after the cover 25, the partition 18 and-the sides 16 have been removed, so that said ends rest approximately parallel to the bottomV and in close proximity thereto. sides '16 is then placed on the ends 12, the partition is placed upon this side 16 and the remaining side 16 isV placed upon the parti-y tion. The cover 25 is then placed upon this last side 16 so that theV end lips or flanges 26 thereof extend to a point in approxi? mately the plane of the bottom, Ythereby embracing the ends 12, the sides 16 and the pari tition 18. The hooks 29 are then swung so that they engage slight depressions 100, Fig. 2, on the under sides of the cleats 11 on the bottomV .1,0 thereby locking the cover 25 to said bottom 10 with the sides 16, ends 12 and partition 18 between the top 25 and the bottom 10, as illustrated in Fig.

In Figs. 6 to 11 inclusive are illustrated the details of construction of a crate constructed of lattice work for the shipmentof chickens and the like, and in fact for any use to which these crates are ordinarily put. The details of construction Aof this crate are very similar to those of the box illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, with such changes as are necessary to adapt the present inventlon to the lattice or slat construction. In this form of the invention, the bottom 10 has the sides 16 pivoted thereto by means of the hinges 13', said hinges extending diagonally and upwardly from a point adjacent to one edge of the bottom and there pivoted to a point adjacent to one edge of the coperating si des and there likewise pivoted, sothat when the crate is collapsed, the lower edges of the sides 16 may be swung inwardly and rest parallel to the bottom 10. Each side 16 is provided with a plurality of cleats 16, the end ones of vwhich are groovedat 15 for the reception of the ends 12, the ends 12 being provided with the cleats 12 which are received in the grooves 15. The lower ends of these cleats 16 rest upon the cleats 10 formed on the bottom 10. When Y collapsed, the sides16 are swung inwardly about their hinges 13 so that they rest Hush with, and adjacent to, the bottom 10, the lower edges of said sides resting adjacent to each other and parallel on top of the ends 12 which were removed froml their One of the grooves 15 prior to the lowering of the sides. A cover 25 is provided having the longitudinal sides or lips 26, which rest against the cleats 16 of the sides 16. The cover is provided with a hook 29 similar in construction to the hook 29 illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, adjacent to each end of each side or lip 26. In Fig. 10 I disclose a slightly modified nut for the hook 29. In the latter instance the nut 28a may be a tubular, tapped sleeve, tightly driven into the member 26. When the crate is collapsed, these hooks engage the undersides of the cleats 10 of the bottom 10, being received in depressions 1,01', Fig. 8, provided therefor. When the crate is distended, these hooks are received in depressions 29, formed in the end cleats 16 of the sides 16. The collapsing of the crate and the distending thereof, and the position of the elements when in this position is similar to that of the form illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive. One of the slats which go to make up the top 25 is removable, said slat being indicated at 25". One terminal of this slat is engaged by a strap 31 secured centrally to one of the longitudinal sides 26 of the cover. The opposite end of -this slat is removably secured by a bolt 32 passing through the opposite side or lip 26 of the cover 25. In this manner access may be had to the crate without removing the top 25. In some forms of crates of this character, particularly those in which poultry is shipped, it is desirable to close the openings between the slats of the cover 25- to prevent the poultry from projecting their necks from the crate when these crates are stacked one upon the other. To accomplish this, an auxiliary cover 33 is provided which reciprocates under the main cover 25. This auxiliary cover is reciprocated by the bars 341 which project through the slots 35 formed in the sides or lips 26 of the main cover 25. In one position, the auxiliary cover is so positioned that the slats thereof rest in the same vertical plane as the slats of the main cover 25. However, when the auxiliary cover 33 is reciprocated by means of the bars 311, the slats thereof coincide with and close the openings between the slats of the main cover 25. In Fig. l1 is illustrated a modification of this auxiliary cover, wherein a plurality of slats are pivoted between the side lips 26 of the cover 25. These slats 36 take the place of the slats of the main cover 25 and are all connected together by a rod 37, the outer terminal of which is bent downwardly as at 38 to form a finger piece and lock. vVhen this rod 36 is forced inwardly to the position illustrated in dotted lines in F ig. 11, the slats 36 are likewise swung so that they overlap one upon the other, thereby forming a solid top 25 for the crate.

What is claimed is:

l. A collapsible crate, including, in combination, a bottom, said bottom having depressed ledges atthe ends thereof; ends, said ends having depressed ledges at the lower terminals thereof, said ledges being adapted to engage the ledges on said bottom; eyes on said ends and said bottoms; connecting rods connecting said eyes, said rods being pivoted in said eyes and adapted to permit said ends to be elevated inwardly over said bottom, and rotated into a plane parallel to, and adjacent said bottom.

2. A collapsible crate, including, in combination, a bottom, said bottom having depressed ledges at the ends thereof; ends, said ends having depressed ledges at the lower terminals thereof, said ledges being adapted to engage the ledges on said bottom; eyes on said ends and said bottom; connecting rods connecting said eyes, said rods being pivoted in said eyes and adapted to permit said ends to be elevated inwardly over said bottom, and rotated into a plane parallel to, and adjacent, said bottom, said ends having vertical grooves near opposing edges; and sides, said sides having their vertical edges constructed to engage said grooves and thereby maintain said ends and said sides in upright position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN D. BELANGER.

In the presence of- MARTIN NELSON,

C. S. STARK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

